Madagascar's president to attend gruaduation at ACU

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, May 7, 2008

The president of Madagascar was expected to watch Saturday as two dozen students from his country graduate from Abilene Christian University.

The 24 students are receiving degrees in biology, communications, environmental science, political science, architecture and other concentrations. They were part of the Madagascar Presidential Scholars program, a competitive initiative started by Malagasy President Marc Ravalomanana to train the future leaders of his nation.

"I just want to be a part of things that would make changes happen in Madagascar," said Laza Razafimanjato, an interior design major from the Malagasy city of Antananarivo. "Some of (the Malagasy students) want to work and help in different ways, but ultimately it's going to come down to helping Madagascar in whatever way we can."

The scholarship program was established in 2004 after ACU vice president for development John Tyson met with Ravalomanana while on business trade mission in Madagascar. Officials chose scholarship recipients from 15 regions of the island country off the coast of South Africa. Madagascar's government paid the students tuition for all four years at ACU.

"I left one family at home, but I'm leaving 10 families here," Joelly Rasamoelina, a sociology major from the Malagasy city of Fianaratsoa. "I think ACU really challenged me in a lot of ways, but also it is very supportive environment. I have grown to become someone that I don't know I could have, had I been at a different institution."